“Most of my work is musically oriented but not all of it,” says Bashaw. Â Michael admits to being “all over the map” in terms of what kind of artwork he makes or pursues. Â Not only is his work all over the map, heâ€™s created installations and performed all over Ohio, the United States, even in Bosnia.Â Whether heâ€™s inspired by Frank Lloyd Wrightâ€™s Falling Water or simply the materials in front of him, Michaelâ€™s inspiration, or â€œjuiceâ€ as he calls it, makes him an intensely versatile artist.

Though most focus on his massive, hand built instruments called â€œsound sculpturesâ€, and rightly so, the part of his artistic career that might leave the most lasting mark is his work as an educator.Â Michael has been lending his creativity to future generations of artists as an artist in residence in the Ohio schools for 20 years.Â If only we all had a teacher that interesting!

“You know, I walk down the street sometimes in the summer time and all of a sudden theyâ€™re [students] like â€œHey thereâ€™s that crazy man!â€, says Bashaw with a giggle. “You know theyâ€™re excited to see me because they had this great experience.”

“I think students really want to be a part of something. Something larger than themselves. For me, thatâ€™s really rewarding.” imparts Bashaw.